Arizona introduced Nathaniel Hackett as its offensive coordinator on Wednesday, laying out how the Cardinals’ offense will operate next season.
New head coach Mike LaFleur will call offensive plays, but Hackett -- on his fifth job as an OC -- will be there to assist in the overall design of the unit.
“For me, it's all about being there for [LaFleur], helping him develop the plans, helping him develop anything that he needs and make it so that he can be the best version of himself,” Hackett told reporters.
LaFleur and Hackett have never worked together in the NFL, but interestingly, Hackett followed LaFleur as the New York Jets’ coordinator in 2023. Hackett spent two different stints with LaFleur’s brother, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, serving as Green Bay’s offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021 before taking the Broncos’ head coaching job and again last season as a defensive analyst.
Mike LaFleur made it clear on Wednesday that Hackett was his top choice from the start.
“He's been very successful. He's very thought of, particularly within our profession,” LaFleur said. “If you guys believe one thing from this press conference, it is, literally, I wanted him and nobody else, and he's here.”
Asked how the LaFleur brothers compare, Hackett said there are “lots of similarities” but also “definitely some differences” in how they operate.
“My experience in Green Bay with Matt was absolutely incredible. Matt's one of my dearest friends and I'm so grateful for all my time that I had with him,” Hackett said. “Now I'm looking for that same experience with another LaFleur. So, just gonna keep racking up those LaFleurs.”
Hackett said he’s comfortable with the role he’s been hired for, accepting the job after initially taking a job this offseason as Miami's quarterbacks coach before the Cardinals called. Even without play-calling responsibility, he’s taking on the role with the same approach of wanting everyone to be on the same page, philosophy-wise.
“I don't even look at it as a split. For me, my goal, no matter what the role is, is that the entire staff understands the plan and can call the game the exact same way,” Hackett said. “That's really, in essence, what you're looking for.
"It doesn't matter who’s got the paper, doesn't matter who’s got the microphone to the quarterback -- everybody's gonna call it the same way. So, I think, it's more about doing whatever I can do to help Mike get to that place (where) he's got a ‘can't stop me’ mentality and he's feeling it when he's out there and being able to call the plays and dial it up and the quarterback knows that.”
Quarterback figures to be a hot topic in Arizona this offseason. Speculation about Kyler Murray’s future has waxed in recent weeks and months, casting some doubt on what that room will look like next season. Murray finished last season on injured reserve and was limited to five games. He's due to hit the Cardinals’ salary cap for more than $52 million in 2026.
Although Hackett didn’t shed light on Murray’s future with the team, he spoke about the difficulty of playing quarterback in the NFL, calling it the hardest position to play in "any sport.” Hackett said it’s crucial for coaches to properly buttress the position -- with talent around them and with the coaching staff shielding their QBs from outside noise.
“I think for me, it's always been about that relationship with them because there's so many ups and downs,” Hackett said. “They have to have something steady, and they have to have a foundation that they can believe in and know that you're always going to be there with them and for them.
“... I mean, they touch the ball every play. So, it's one of those things for us, for all the coaches, it's about supporting that position. Because when that position plays well, you're going to have a good football team."
As for his general offensive philosophy, Hackett believes that explosive plays are critical but not without consistency. This will come as music to Cardinals fans’ ears after a season in which they were lacking in both.
“Gotta love explosives -- that's why the fans get in the stands,” Hackett said. “We're always looking for that, but there's also a sense of efficiency. So, everything you do in the foundation of a system is to be able to find efficiency and what those guys can hang their hat on.”